Language Point 1
In traditional African society the sacred and the everyday are not separated. There is no division of life. (Para. 1)
Meaning: In traditional African society, there is no difference between the sacred and the common and in like manner there is no difference between the two in one's life.
Language Point 2
What religion forbids or condemns society also forbids and condemns, and similarly society approves those things which religion approves. (Para. 1)
Meaning: Society is opposed to anything that is condemned or forbidden by religion, and likewise, society approves anything that religion approves.
Language Point 3
An offence against God is an offence against man, and in like manner an offence against man is an offence against God. (Para. 1)
Meaning: Whenever a person upsets God he also embarrasses man, and likewise, whenever a person upsets man he also embarrasses God.
Language Point 4
Traditional African religion has no written legal documents showing what is legal or illegal, but traditional Africans have a code of conduct, which they all know. (Para. 2)
Meaning: Traditional African religion does not have written documents to show what is legal and what is illegal, but traditional African people have a set of standards of good behavior or social norms, which all the Africans know.
code of conduct: a set of standards agreed on by members of a particular community
Managers are expected to comply with the company's code of conduct. 经理应按照公司的行为准则做事。
Language Point 5
This code constrains individuals to conform to the needs of society. (Para. 2)
Meaning: The standard of good behavior or social norms make individuals behave according to the needs of society.
constrain: vt.
1) force sb. to do sth. that they do not want to do
She should have kept quiet, but felt constrained to answer. 她本来应该保持沉默的，但是当时感到不得不做出回答。
2) limit one's freedom to do what they want
Young women were not only constrained by their class position, but also by their position within the family. 年轻女性不但被她们的社会地位所束缚，而且也被她们的家庭地位所束缚。
Teachers have always been constrained by the demands of examinations and the expectations of parents. 教师总是受到考试要求和家长们的期望两者的束缚。
conform to: do sth. according to a type of quality that is required or expected
A good deal of evidence was produced to show that children tend to conform to their teachers' expectations of them. 已出现的大量证据显示，儿童容易按照教师对他们的期望行事。
Girls are expected to conform to a stricter morality by their parents. 父母们认为，女孩应该受到更严格的道德约束。
Language Point 6
The components of the code have been transmitted conventionally from generation to generation. (Para. 2)
Meaning: The details of the code have been handed down traditionally from generation to generation.
Language Point 7
...stealing, kidnapping, lying, breach of contract... (Para. 2)
breach: n. an act of breaking, disobeying, or not fulfilling a law, promise or duty
Although employees who decide not to move may be in breach of contract, there is little that employers can do. 虽然决定不动的雇员可能违反了合同，但是雇主也无可奈何。
He was arrested for a breach of the peace. 他因在公共场所扰乱治安而被捕。
Language Point 8
All prohibited acts are crimes in traditional African religion, and any person committing any of them is regarded as a criminal and incurs punishment. (Para. 2)
Meaning: All prohibited acts are regarded as crimes in traditional African religion, and any person who commits any of those acts is a criminal and receives punishment.
incur: vt. receive (esp. sth. unpleasant) as a result of one's actions
If delays are incurred due to technical defects the problems have to be dealt with speedily and with a high degree of certainty that the defect has been fixed. 如果延误是由于技术缺陷造成的，问题必须马上处理，并且要保证此缺陷已经解决。
All I wanted was to be away from the court before I further incurred Henry's wrath. 我所希望的是在再度惹怒亨利之前离开法庭。
Language Point 9
Abnormal behavior, which deviates from the norms of society, is a criminal act. (Para. 2)
Meaning: Abnormal behavior, which does not conform to the standards of society, is considered to be a criminal act.
abnormal: a. not typical, usual, or regular; not normal
We do not think such an abnormal phenomenon will last long. 我们认为这种不正常现象不会持久。
Did you notice anything abnormal in the office today? 你注意到今天办公室有不正常的情况吗？
deviate from: move away from a usual or accepted standard of behavior
They were arguing that Holland should not deviate so far from general European policy. 他们认为荷兰不应该偏离欧洲的总体政策如此之远。
More seriously, it suggests that history will always deviate from any intended route and take an unforeseen one instead. 更严重的是，它说明，历史总是从既定路线偏离，沿着难以预料的道路发展。
norm: n. a standard, model, or pattern regarded as typical
You must conform to the norms of the society you live in. 你必须遵循你所在社会的行为准则。
These criminals violated the norms of civilized society. 这些犯罪分子违反了文明社会的行为准则。
Language Point 10
We cannot deal with all of them in this paper, but shall discuss a few. (Para. 2)
Meaning: We cannot cover all of these criminal actions in this paper, but will discuss some of them.
Language Point 11
Lying is an attempt to deceive by speaking what is not true. (Para. 4)
Meaning: To lie is to say something that is not true in an attempt to mislead another person.
Language Point 12
It is forbidden in the traditional religion, and any incidence of it is a crime not only against human beings but also against the gods. (Para. 4)
Meaning: Lying is forbidden by traditional religion, and any act of lying is not only a crime against other people, but also an action against the gods.
Language Point 13
Traditional Africans train their children always to tell the truth because they believe that a liar is prone to other forms of criminal acts, like stealing. (Para.4)
Meaning: Traditional Africans educate their children always to tell the truth because they think that if a person tells lies, he is also likely to commit other criminal acts, such as stealing.
be prone to: be likely to
Nowadays his mistakes are fewer, though the father reveals the child is prone to hiding a few. 现在他犯的错误要少些了，尽管他父亲说这孩子可能会把一些错误遮掩起来。
Language Point 14
The idiom is: "He who lies will steal." (Para. 4)
Meaning: There is a saying that a person who lies will also steal.
Language Point 15
Traditional Africans believe that even when human beings are deceived, God sees the liars and knows the truth and will punish them accordingly. (Para. 5)
Meaning: Traditional Africans believe that God sees the liars when they are deceiving, knows the truth, and will punish the liars according to how bad their lies were.
Language Point 16
They fear the fury of God, which leads to miseries and misfortune. (Para. 5)
Meaning: They are afraid of God's anger, which can bring them miseries and bad luck.
Language Point 17
They prefer divine pleasure to divine anger, and divine approval to divine punishment. (Para. 5)
Meaning: They would rather make God happy than angry; and earn God's approval for their actions than to be punished by him.
Language Point 18
When Africans say "God will judge", a liar's mind or conscience batters him and the machinery within him is set in motion which makes him confess that he told a lie. (Para. 5)
Meaning: When Africans say "God will judge", the liar's mind or conscience will hit him so heavily and repeatedly that his inner world starts to work and he will eventually confess that he told a lie.
batter: v. hit heavily and repeatedly with violent blows
The ship was being battered by the waves. 浪花击打着船身。
After he had battered on the door for a couple of minutes, the lock was turned and the door opened a crack. 他连续敲了好几分钟以后，锁转动了，门开了一条缝。
Language Point 19
He may be asked to swear an oath, and since he knows that swearing falsely will bring about serious effects, he will immediately withdraw from swearing. (Para. 5)
Meaning: He might be asked to make a solemn promise, and since he knows that if he makes a false promise, serious results will occur, he will immediately stop promising.
oath: n. a solemn, formal declaration or promise to fulfill a pledge
He swore an oath to support the king. 他宣誓支持国王。
The witness is on oath. 证人宣了誓。
Language Point 20
A thief dishonors his relations. (Para. 7)
Meaning: The family of a thief becomes disgraced.
Language Point 21
Traditional Africans perform rituals to detect a thief and recover the stolen property. (Para. 7)
Meaning: Traditional Africans hold religious ceremonies to discover a thief and find the stolen property.
Language Point 22
They commit the thief or the robber to the gods for punishment, and in some cases the thieves are made to publicly confess or return the stolen property. (Para. 7)
Meaning: They give the thief or the robber to the gods to be punished, and sometimes the thieves are made to confess the theft or return the stolen property publicly.
commit...to...: give or transfer to
On Wednesday, a court committed him to a hospital for observation of his mental condition. 星期三，法庭把他送到医院以观察他的精神状况。
The killer was committed to prison immediately after the sentence. 宣判后，杀人犯马上被送进了监狱。
Language Point 23
This is believed to be in consequence of divine power and wrath, which makes the thief suffer physically or internally. (Para. 7)
Meaning: People believe this happens as a result of God's mighty power and anger, so that the thief suffers physically or emotionally.
in consequence of: as a result of
It is remarkable that the present government have never reflected upon the great increase in public expenditure, which has come about in consequence of their policies in the field of the social services. 值得注意的是，当局从来没有对公共开支巨额增长进行反思，这是他们社会公益事业政策带来的后果。
In consequence of this service I gained his respect and was placed in command of his army. 完成这项任务后，我赢得了他的敬重，并被委派指挥他的军队。
Language Point 24
He may be subjected to prolonged torture, illness, partial blindness, or become lame, to the point that fortune-tellers are summoned to ascertain the cause of his misfortune. (Para. 7)
Meaning: He may be tortured for a long time, made ill, partly blinded, or made to be crippled to the degree that fortune-tellers are called to determine the cause of his misfortune.
prolonged: a. continuing for a long time
These animals possess the ability to withstand intense heat and drought for prolonged periods of time. 这些动物有长时间忍受炎热和干旱的能力。
It is clearly inappropriate to involve Julie in a prolonged conversation as soon as she arrives in the ward. 很显然，朱莉一到病房就让她做长时间的交谈是不合适的。
summon: vt. call together; send for
During the late afternoon I received another call summoning me to another Cabinet meeting at 7:30. 傍晚时我又接到一个电话，通知在7：30参加另一个内阁会议。
His mother summoned him; she made it clear that she wished to see him alone.他妈妈叫他，并且很明白地表示想单独见他。
ascertain: vt. discover the truth of (sth.); make certain
Above all, the child's wishes and feelings must be ascertained and taken into account in all decisions that are made. 首先要弄清楚这个孩子的愿望和感受，并在所有决定中把它们考虑进去。
The task of evaluation is to ascertain whether or not the pre-specified goals have been achieved. 评估的任务是要弄清楚预定的目标是否已经实现。
Language Point 25
When it is attributed to stealing, the stolen goods have to be returned and a sacrifice offered to appease the gods. (Para. 7)
Meaning: When it is proved that the misfortune is caused by stealing, those goods must be returned and a sacrifice must be offered to calm, quieten or soothe the gods.
attribute to: believe (sth.) to be the result or work of
His success was attributed to hard work and good luck. 他的成功归因于努力工作和运气好。
Language Point 26
Stealing stains the reputation and integrity of the family of the thief, and traditional Africans strive very much to protect the good name and image of the family. (Para. 8)
Meaning: A family's reputation and good honor are severely damaged when one of its members steals, and traditional Africans make great efforts to protect their family's good name and image.
strive: vi. struggle or fight forcefully; try hard
We are striving for perfection in our products, not for making money out of them. 我们正在力争完善我们的产品，而不是从中挣钱。
Parents strive to ensure that their children are placed in the best schools. 父母们都力争确保孩子们上最好的学校。
Language Point 27
Even a family of poor reputation will not want their offspring to be accused of stealing, because criminal acts bring shame to the parents. (Para. 8)
Meaning: Even when the family's reputation is already poor, they will not want their children to be accused of stealing, because criminal acts bring shame to the parents.
Language Point 28
When meetings are convened to choose people for positions and titles of honor in the society, a one-time thief and his parents will not be considered for such roles of honor. (Para. 8)
Meaning: When meetings are held to choose people for positions and honorable titles in the society, a person who was once a thief and his parents will not be considered for such positions or titles.
convene: vt. call or arrange a meeting
We will be convening a conference on Friday to discuss the future of our company. 星期五我们要召开一个会议来讨论公司的未来。
He convened a conference of top government officials to discuss Japan's foreign policy. 他召开了一个高层政府官员会议来讨论日本的外交政策。
Language Point 29
The loss of fame in the community serves as a serious and adequate punishment in traditional society. (Para. 8)
Meaning: A person's loss of fame in the community is regarded as a serious and adequate punishment in traditional African society.
Language Point 30
According to traditional religion, parents, after giving their children good training, nursing them through childhood, and settling them down properly in life, expect the children to care for them, whether the parents are rich or poor. (Para. 10)
Meaning: According to traditional religion, after children are given good training and nursing during their childhood by their parents, and are settled into their own lives as adults, parents expect their children to care for them whether the parents are rich or poor.
Language Point 31
It is believed that whatever a child might become and whatever height he might attain, his parents are responsible; if he fails to honor his parents he is bound to fall from the heights and his life will be empty of peace and satisfaction. (Para. 11)
Meaning: It is believed that no matter what a child might become and no matter what height he might reach, this is attributed to his parents, if he does not honor or respect his parents, he is certain to fall, and not find or have peace and satisfaction from life.
be bound to: be certain to
The increase is almost bound to have a further depressing effect on the housing market. 这次上涨必定要给商品房市场进一步带来负面影响。
Language Point 32
Parents should be regarded as gods, acknowledged and "worshipped". (Para. 11)
Meaning: Parents should be thought of as gods, and their children should give thanks to them and respect them.
Language Point 33
It is, according to Africans, the will of God that parents should be cherished, and any society where children despise and neglect their parents will not have the blessings of God. (Para. 11)
Meaning: According to Africans, God wants parents to be treated with affection and tenderness by their children, and any society where children look down upon and neglect their parents will not be protected by God.
cherish: vt. treat with affection and tenderness; hold dear
She had given him a gift, something that he cherished very dearly. 她给了他一件礼物，他非常珍视这件礼物。
The treasury of music will be maintained and cherished with the greatest care. 这些音乐财富会得到很好的保存和珍视。
Language Point 34
God's majesty is violated when parents are dishonored. (Para. 11)
Meaning: The dignity of God is insulted when parents are not respected.
Language Point 35
It is a capital crime for a child to strike or beat his parents, and it is prohibited to curse one's father or mother. (Para. 11)
Meaning: If a child beats his parents, he will committed a crime that is punishable by death, and it is forbidden to curse one's father or mother.
Language Point 36
Traditional African government is religious and the rulers are regarded as divine representatives, and so it is prohibited to reproach them. (Para. 13)
Meaning: Traditional African government is religious and its rulers are considered to be representatives of the gods, so it is forbidden to disapprove or criticize them.
reproach: vt. express disapproval, criticism of, or disappointment with
His mother reproached him for his bad manners. 他的母亲责备他没有礼貌。
Do not reproach yourself, it was not your fault. 不要责备你自己，这不是你的过错。
Language Point 37
There can, of course, be a move against a ruler who oppresses others and whose reign proves to be disastrous for the people, but normally traditional rulers are thought to be sacred, and any defendant who is convicted of disobeying them is fined, criticized or expelled from the ruler's domain. (Para. 13)
Meaning: There can be a proposal to get rid of a ruler who treats the people cruelly and whose rule is cruel and terrible for the people of his kingdom.
However, traditional rulers are generally believed to be sacred, and anyone who is found guilty of disobeying the rulers is fined, criticized, or driven out of the ruler's kingdom.
defendant: n. sb. who has been accused of a crime and is on a trial
Although the defendant provided a lot of evidence to prove his innocence, the judge still insisted on his guilt. 虽然被告提供了很多证据来证明自己是无辜的，但是法官还是坚持判他有罪。
The defendant prevailed in the case. 被告在本案中胜诉。
expel: vt. force or drive out
The Committee pronounced four members expelled for failure to provide information in the course of investigations. 委员会宣布开除四个委员，因为他们在调查过程中未能提供信息。
A delegation from Canada was expelled from that country on Jan. 7 for "engaging in activities incompatible with their status". 加拿大的一个代表团在1月7日被该国驱逐出境，因为他们做了"与身份不符的事情"。
domain: n.
1) a territory over which rule or control is exercised
It was claimed that this small island was within the King's domain. 据声称，这个小岛是国王的领地。
2) a sphere of activity, concern, or function; a field (of knowledge, etc.)
This problem lies outside the domain of medical science. 这个问题超出了医学的范围。
Language Point 38
The position of rulers and authorities is similar throughout Africa. (Para. 14)
Meaning: The positions of rulers and government authorities are very much alike throughout Africa.
Language Point 39
In the past, execution was the punishment for not being obedient to the rulers. (Para. 14)
Meaning: In the past, people who were not obedient to the rulers would be executed/ killed so as to punish them.
execution: n. an act of killing as a punishment
In Europe, executions by hanging used to be held in public. 在欧洲，绞刑过去常常是公开执行。
Despite the campaign against the death penalty, there were altogether six executions last year. 尽管发生反对死刑的运动，去年还是执行了六宗死刑。
Language Point 40
Without true respect for religious beliefs, Africans believe, it will be difficult to eliminate crime within any society. (Para. 15)
Meaning: Africans believe that if people do not hold true respect for religious beliefs it will be difficult to wipe out crime from within any society.
